He told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" on Sunday that conservative Republicans were rallying to his banner to block McCain, whose stances on tax cuts, immigration and campaign finance reform have incurred the wrath of much of the party's activist base.

"Conservative voices, both from radio and from publications, are saying, 'You know what, we've got to get behind Mitt Romney. We really can't afford John McCain as the nominee of our party,' " Romney said. "And that kind of groundswell is what led me to win in Maine yesterday."E-mail to a friend